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File Created: 24-Jul-1985 by BC Geological Survey (BCGS)
Last Edit:  06-Jun-2023 by Karl A. Flower (KAF)

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NMI 104P5 W1
Name KUHN, WINDY, BALSAM Mining Division Liard
BCGS Map 104P031
Status Developed Prospect NTS Map 104P05W
Latitude 059º 21' 03'' UTM 09 (NAD 83)
Longitude 129º 51' 54'' Northing 6579438
Easting 450811
Commodities Tungsten, Molybdenum, Zinc, Copper, Antimony Deposit Types K05 : W skarn
K07 : Mo skarn
I05 : Polymetallic veins Ag-Pb-Zn+/-Au
Tectonic Belt Omineca Terrane Cassiar, Slide Mountain
Capsule Geology

The Kuhn occurrence is located south-southeast of Kuhn Lake, approximately 103 kilometres north of the community of Dease Lake.

Regionally, the area is underlain by a north to north-northwest–trending series of sedimentary rocks, dipping approximately 70 to 80 degrees to the northeast, and comprised of undivided sedimentary rocks of the Neoproterozoic Stelkuz Formation (Ingenika Group), quartz arenite sedimentary rocks of the Lower Cambrian Boya Formation (Atan Group), calcareous sedimentary rocks of the Lower Cambrian Rosella Formation (Atan Group), limestone, slate, siltstone and argillite of the Cambrian to Ordovician Kechika Group and Ordovician to Silurian Road River Group, quartz arenite sedimentary rocks of the Silurian to Lower Devonian Ramhorn Group and calcareous sedimentary rocks of the Devonian McDame Group. Locally, the series of sedimentary rocks have been intruded by a quartz-feldspar porphyry related to the Lower Cretaceous Cassiar Batholith, which is exposed to the west.

Approximately 4 kilometres northwest of the Cassiar Asbestos Mine (MINFILE 104P 005), clastic and carbonate metasediments of the Lower Cambrian Atan Group and Upper Proterozoic Ingenika Group, on the east-dipping western limb of the McDame synclinorium, are intruded by the Late Cretaceous Kuhn stocks. Massive calcsilicate skarn occurs as semi-continuous layers up to 10 metres thick along the western or lower contacts of marble layers and as smaller lenses and pods. The skarn layers dip 38 degrees east. Scheelite, molybdenite, pyrite, pyrrhotite and rare magnetite form coarse disseminations interstitial to calcsilicates.

Locally, quartz-molybdenite veins crosscut Atan calc-silicate hornfels. Layered magnetite skarn, up to 1 metre wide, with finely disseminated molybdenite-scheelite, occurs in zones bordering massive calc-silicate skarn. Retrograde massive pyrrhotite or pyrrhotite-sphalerite rich skarn occurs as pods and veins replacing other skarn facies. These contain disseminated scheelite and chalcopyrite. Locally stibnite and sphalerite veins crosscut Atan Group dolomite. The skarn mineral assemblage includes garnet, diopside, actinolite, powellite and fluorite.

The Kuhn (Main) skarn zone, developed along the footwall contact of the Atan Group carbonate sequence, has been drill-tested over a strike length of 350 metres. The zone is composed of two parallel skarn bands referred to as the Upper 3A and Lower 3A, which range from 3 to 22 metres in width. The 3A and 3B zones are separated by approximately 12 to 25 metres of barren dolomite and marble. The Kuhn zone (Main) skarn extends 1 kilometre north (to Kuhn Lake) and 1.3 kilometres south. The overall strike length of the Kuhn zone is approximately 2.5 kilometres.

In 1979, samples from trench West zone “A”, cut approximately perpendicular to the mineralized zone, yielded 0.39 per cent tungsten tri-oxide over 10.8 metres, whereas samples from trenches T-13, T-11 and T-12, located approximately 75, 150 and 450 metres north of the previous trench, yielded 0.30 per cent tungsten tri-oxide over 1.4 metres, 0.26 per cent tungsten tri-oxide (grab sample) and 0.29 per cent tungsten tri-oxide with 0.21 per cent copper over 1.2 metres, respectively (Assessment Report 8077). The Upper 3A band contains drill-indicated and inferred reserves totalling 78,700 tonnes grading 0.5 per cent tungsten tri-oxide within a 70- by 74-metre block that is 5 metres thick. The Lower 3A band contains 409,300 tonnes of drill-indicated and inferred reserves grading 0.48 per cent tungsten tri-oxide 3 and 0.134 per cent molybdenite within a block 215 metres long and 130 metres wide (downdip) by 6 metres average width. Within the Lower 3A band is a higher-grade block containing 232,790 tonnes grading 0.61 per cent tungsten tri-oxide and 0.24 per cent molybdenite.

In 1980 and 1981, diamond drilling on the central part of the main Kuhn (North) occurrence is reported to have yielded intercepts including 0.558 per cent tungsten tri-oxide and 0.103 per cent copper over 6.4 metres (20.10 to 26.50 metres downhole) and 0.595 per cent tungsten tri-oxide and 0.058 per cent molybdenum over 11.3 metres (37.55 to 48.85 metres downhole) in hole 80A3; 0.369 and 0.550 per cent tungsten tri-oxide over 10.05 and 4.85 metres (70.80 to 84.15 and 93.00 to 97.85 metres downhole), respectively in hole 81A3 and 0.406 per cent tungsten tri-oxide over 22.00 metres (59.40 to 81.40 metres downhole) in hole 81A-7 (Assessment Report 27030). Also at this time, drillholes 81A-5 and 81A-2, located approximately 500 and 900 metres north of the previous drillholes yielded intercepts of 0.118 and 0.272 per cent tungsten tri-oxide over 3.2 and 0.50 metres, respectively (Assessment Report 27030).

In 1982, the combined reserves at Kuhn North occurrence were reported at 409,300 tonnes grading 0.08 per cent molybdenum and 0.38 per cent tungsten and an additional 78,700 tonnes grading 0.50 per cent tungsten tri-oxide (or 0.39 per cent tungsten). Grades given were 0.134 per cent molybdenite and 0.48 per cent tungsten tri-oxide; conversion factors used were 1.6681 for molybdenum and 1.2611 for tungsten. The dimensions of the deposit are 215 by 130 by 6 metres (Assessment Report 10512).

In 1998, a sample (19318) from the Kuhn occurrence area assayed 0.45 per cent lead, 1.53 per cent zinc and 6.9 grams per tonne silver, whereas an undescribed sample (98/06/23-5/DN) from the ridge to the north-northeast of the occurrence yielded 2.94 per cent lead, 1.38 per cent zinc and 53.1 grams per tonne silver (Assessment Report 25860).

In 2011, a chip sample (KU11AR712) from the main Kuhn zone yielded 1.985 per cent tungsten and 0.175 per cent molybdenum over 0.22 metre (Assessment Report 32573). In 2013, a chip sample (KU13AR-801) from the lower band of the main zone yielded 0.239 per cent tungsten over 2.05 metres (Assessment Report 34025). The following year, three chip samples (16KU04, 16KU05 and 16U07) from the lower band of the main zone assayed 0.74, 0.34 and 2.65 per cent tungsten over 1.20, 1.10 and 0.45 metres, respectively, with up to 0.370 per cent molybdenum (Assessment Report 36301).

Work History

In 1978, the Kuhn property was originally staked by prospector, Bill Kuhn. In 1979, Shell Canada Resources Ltd. optioned the property from Kuhn. Shell completed 337 metres of trenching, and 17 NQ diamond drill holes, totalling 1766 metres. In 1980 and 1981, further programs of diamond drilling were completed.

In 1998, Eveready Resources Corp. completed a program of geological mapping and rock sampling on the area as the Rattler property.

In 2002, Fundamental Resources Corp. carried out geological mapping, rock chip and soil sampling on the Kuhn mineral claim. In 2004 and 2005, Fundamental Resources Corp. conducted rock chip sampling, geological mapping and magnetometer surveys on the Kuhn Main zone. During 2011 through 2019, Fundamental Resources completed further minor programs of geological mapping, geochemical (rock and soil) sampling and 2.7 line-kilometres of ground magnetic surveys on the property.

Bibliography
EMPR ASS RPT *7520, *8077, *8265, *9406, *10512, *25860, 27030, *27537, 27978, 31833, *32573, *34025, *36301, 36811, 38356
EMPR BULL 83
EMPR EXPL 1980-518
EMPR FIELDWORK *1979, pp. 84-85; *1981, pp. 259-269; 1988, pp. 323-337
EMPR MAP 1992-13
EMPR OF 1989-9; 1991-17; 1996-11
EMPR PFD 800616, 800617
EMR MIN BULL MR 223 B.C. 355
GSC MAP 1110A
GSC MEM 319
GSC OF 2779
*Cooke, B.J. and Godwin, C.I. (1984): Geology, Mineral Equilibria, and Isotopic Studies of the McDame Tungsten Skarn Prospect, North-Central B.C., EG, V. 80, 1985, pp. 826-847
Cooke, B.J. (1976): Geology, Mineral Equilibria, Sulphur, Rubidium-Strontium and Lead Isotopes and Intrusion Chemistry of the McDame Tungsten Skarn Project, North Central British Columbia, M.Sc. Thesis, U.B.C.

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